New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Dongimagor’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Dongimagor’ characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; large, glossy and dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; large flowers with cordate-shaped petals that are vivid reddish orange in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DONGIMAGOR’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dongimagor’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely branching and early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with large attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2016 in Koka, Ethiopia of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongimagbrahe’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/873,771, now abandoned, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN14-709509-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. in April, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dongimagor’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dongimagor’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Large, glossy and dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large flowers with cordate-shaped petals that are vivid         reddish orange in color.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Dongimagbrahe’. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Dongimagbrahe’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Dongimagbrahe’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are vivid reddish         orange in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Dongimagbrahe’ are         deep red orange in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens flower one week later than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are vivid reddish         orange in color whereas flowers of plants of the male parent         selection are scarlet in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duemagwis’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,782. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duemagwis’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have lighter green-colored leaves         than plants of ‘Duemagwis’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens flower earlier than plants of         ‘Duemagwis’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are vivid reddish         orange in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Duemagwis’ are         light red in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Timor’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,144. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Timor’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Timor’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Timor’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are vivid reddish         orange in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Timor’ are bright         orange in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongimagor’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongimagor’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C., night temperatures averaged 20° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000 to 4,500 lux. Plants were 14 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongimagor’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongimagbrahe’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.             16/873,771, now abandoned.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN14-709509-001, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at day temperatures about 27° C. and night             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27° C.             and night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             uniformly mounding plant habit; broad inverted triangle in             overall shape; freely branching habit; bushy and dense             appearance; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and             moderate to rapid growth rate; strong and sturdy plants.         -   Plant height.—About 31 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 49.5 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with about six to seven             primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary             branches.         -   Length.—About 27 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1 cm to 1.25 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 6.5 cm to 7.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to about 30° to 45° from vertical.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 187A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 146A moderately to heavily             overlain with close to 183A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Typically in whorls or opposite; simple; leaves             are durable.         -   Length.—About 12 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.75 cm.         -   Shape.—Obovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Long acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Senate with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker green than             147A; midvein, proximally, close to 183B to 183C and             distally, close to 144A; and lateral venation, close to             147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;             midvein and lateral venation, close to 183A.         -   Petiole length.—About 4 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Petiole texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Petiole color, upper surface.—Close to 183C to 183D.         -   Petiole color, lower surface.—Close to 183B to 183C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Large single axillary             flowers that are rounded in shape; freely flowering habit,             typically about five to six flower buds and opened flowers             per lateral branch; flowers are flat and positioned above             and beyond the foliar plane, flowers typically face mostly             upright to outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about four to seven             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about ten weeks from unrooted cuttings.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: Close to 148A tinged with close to 183A.         -   Flower diameter.—Large, about 7.5 cm by 7.75 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl with one banner petal, two lateral petals and             two lower petals. Length, banner petal: About 3.3 cm.             Length, lateral petals: About 3.4 cm. Length, lower petals:             About 3.7 cm. Width, banner petal: About 5.5 cm. Width,             lateral petals: About 4 cm. Width, lower petals: About             4.6 cm. Shape, all petals: Roughly cordate. Apex, all             petals: Emarginate. Base, all petals: Cuneate to attenuate.             Margin, all petals: Entire, slightly undulate. Texture and             luster, all petals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy; iridescent. Color, all petals:             When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 44B;             towards the base, close to 60A; venation, close to 44B;             color does not change with development. When opening and             fully opened, lower surface: Close to 44D; venation, close             to 44D with exception of banner midvein which is close to             146A; color becoming closer to 43C with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             two laterals are opposite and the third modified into an             elongated spur. Lateral sepal length: About 1.1 cm. Lateral             sepal width: About 6 mm. Lateral sepal shape: Narrowly             ovate. Lateral sepal apex: Acuminate to cuspidate. Lateral             sepal base: Truncate. Lateral sepal margin: Entire, not             undulate. Lateral sepal texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Lateral sepal             color, upper surface: Close to 148B to 148C. Lateral sepal             color, lower surface: Close to 183A. Spurred sepal length             (not including spur): About 1.5 cm. Spurred sepal width             (proximally): About 1.1 cm. Spurred sepal shape             (proximally): Broadly ovate. Spurred sepal base: Cordate.             Spurred sepal margin (proximally): Entire, not undulate.             Spurred sepal texture and luster (proximally), upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Spurred             sepal color (proximally), upper surface: Proximally, close             to 75B to 75C and distally, close to 148C. Spurred sepal             color (proximally), lower surface: Proximally, close to 72B             and distally, close to 146B. Spur length: About 3.5 cm. Spur             diameter: At flower, about 1 5 mm; at apex, less than 1 mm.             Spur shape: Acicular, curved. Spur texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Spur color: Close to             60A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.75 mm.             Angle: About 45° to 90° from vertical. Strength: Strong;             flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: Close to 183A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Filament length: About 4 mm.             Filament color: Close to 158A. Anther length: About 3 mm.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to N155B. Pollen             amount: Scarce to moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158A.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             5 mm. Stigma shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 144A.             Style length: About 4.5 mm. Style color: Close to 144A.             Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Impatiens plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Dongimagor’ as illustrated and described. 